Fuel and water regulator for boilers.



A. DOBLE. FUEL AND WATER REGULATOR FOR BOILERS. APPLIOATION FILED MAR.27, 1918.

L067,101. Patented July 8, 1913.

Aswan nears-or WAL'THA'M, MASSACHUSETTS.

FUEL AND WATER REGULATOR Fort iao'iLERs.

Specification of Letters iateiit.

, Patented July 8, 1913,

A plication filed March 27', 1913. Serial a0 757,:130.

To all whom it may concern: I Be it known that I, ABNER Donne, a citizenof the United States, and resident of VValtham, county of Middl'esex,State of have invented a new and use- ,ful Improvement in Fuel and WaterRegu- Massachusetts,

lators for Boilers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fuel and Water regulating systems for boilersand more particularly to systems of this character adapted to be used inconnection with steam motor vehicles.

Some of the objects of the invention are to provide a system which isextremely simple as to the number of parts and manner of theiradjustment, which will be highly etiicient and absolutely reliable underpractically all conditions of operation, and Wh10ll may be used inconjunction with a holler of the semi-flash type and when so used,provide a system ofsteam generation which is capable of steaming up withthe usual celerity of flash boilers and at the same time have thereserve power and steady steaming qualities of the well known fire tubeboiler.

Other objectsiare to provide a system 111 which theiregulating' devicesare entirely independent in their operation and may be set, at thefactory, to operate under predeicrmined conditions, and when So set Willoperate indefinitely without requiring adjustment.

The features of novelty of the invention will be apparent fromthefollowing deseription taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which,-

. Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a system embodying my invention;Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of another system showing amodificatlon of my invention; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of a furthermodification.

Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates a boiler, preferably of the coiltype, 11 the main burner, and 12 the pilot burner. A water supplyreservoir 13 is provided with an out-let pipe 14 which connects with thesuction side of a pump 15, this pump being preferably driven by theengine or running gear of the vehicle so as to operate in accordancewith the speed of the vehicle. A water pressure regulator 16 of anysuitable type 1 same manner but preferably cf the type shown in myPatent- No. 1,030,983, granted July, 2, 1912, is arranged in a by-passwhich connects the discharge pipe 17 of the piimp 15 with the suctionpipe 14 thereof. This water pressure'reg'ulat or operates insubstantially the ast-he. regulatbr 24 in mv aforesaid prior, patentandis adapted tb malntain the pressure in the pipe 17 at an amountpreferably about fifty pounds per square inch in excess of the normalboiler pressure. The pump 15 is preferably of sufficient capacity todeliver water at all times in excess of the boiler requirements and theregulator 16 by-pass'es the amount 1n excess of the boiler requirements,to the suction side of the pump. The pipe 17 leads to thethermostatically operated valve 18. the thermostat 19 which bp'eratesthis valve being of any suitable construction, for example such as thatindicated at 16 in my aforesaid prior patent. From the valve 18, thewater is conducted through a pipe 20 and a check valve 21'to the boiler10.

A boiler of the semi-flash type, such as is indicated in the drawings,comprises zones in which the water is gradually heated and convertedinto steam 'and the steam su'p'erheated prior to passing out thedelivery end of the boiler. In order to have the thermostat 19 sopositioned as to be most responsive to changes in the conditions Withinthe boiler, I prefer to arrange the thermostat in the saturated -steamzone of the boiler which is ordinarily about two-thirds of the distancebetween the ends of the boiler. It is well known that thermostats aremore re sponsive to changes in temperature in saturated steam than tochanges in temperature of superheated steam owing to the relativelygreater conductivity of the former and therefore by having thethermostat 19 located in the saturated steam zone of the boiler it willbe in a position to be most responsive to changes in conditions withinthe boiler.

As shown in Fig. 1, the valve 18 is arranged to be closed whenever thetemperature in the saturated steam zone of the boiler is below thatcorresponding to the normal boiler pressure so that when the temperatureis below this predetermined amount no water will flow to the boiler'andas a consequence all of the heat developed by the burner 11 will be usedin heating the water and steam then in the boiler and under theseconditions the temperature will be quickly raised to that corres ondingto the normal boiler pressure. hen the temperature reaches thatcorresponding to the normal boiler pressure the valve 18 is opened bythe thermostat 19 and as the temperature rises above this predeterminedamount the valve 18 is opened wider in order to increase the flow ofwater to the boiler in proportion to the excess of the temperature ofthe'steam above the aforesaid predetermined temperature.

A fuel tank 22 is provided and pressure is maintained in this tank forthe purpose of causing the fuel which will ordinarily be in liquid form,to be discharged through the pipe 23 to the cut-oil valve 24. A portionof the fuel after passing through the valve 24 will be conducted bymeans of the pipe 25 to the pilot burner 12 and the balance of the fuelwill be conducted by means of a pipe 26 to the stop valve 27 and fromthe latter by means of a pipe 28 to a valve 29. The valve 29 is of thepressure actuated type and in the form shown in Fig. 1 a diaphragm 30 issubjected to the boiler pressure by meansof a pipe 30, which alsoconducts steam to the engine of the vehicle, and the stem 31 of thevalve is connected with this diaphragm so as to open and close the valve29 in accordance with the movements of the diaphragm. The 30 is opposedby a heavy spring 32, this spring .opening the valve 29 when the boilerpressure is below a predetermined amount, preferably the normalpressure. From the valve 29 the fuel is conducted by a pipe 33 through avalve 34, which is operated by a thermostat 35, the latter being preferaly similar to the thermostat 19. After passing the valve 34, the fuel isconveyed to the burner 11 by means of the ipe 36.

The thermostat 35 may e arranged as shown in Fig. 1, so as to besubjected to the temperature of the steam immediately after it leavesthe boiler or it may be arranged as shown in Fig. 3,,wherein it isdirectly above the burner 11 and subjected to the maxlmum heat of theboiler. When the thermostat is in the position shown in Fig. 3, itwlllnot only be subject to the temperature of the.

steam leavingthe boiler, but will also be in a position where it willclose the valve 34 and cut off the sup lyof fuel to the main burnerwhenever t e temperature of the thermostat exceeds a predeterminedamount. In the normal operation of the boiler the valve 34 does' notregulate the flow of fuel to the ourner 11 because this valve and thethermostat 35 are so adjusted that the valve 34 is closed only on theattainment of an excessive or dangerous temperature. -Under theseconditions it is obvioufl that if the pressure on the diaphragm boilerexcept burner 11 is in operation and there is no water in the boiler,the valve 34' will-be closed as soon as the temperature in thethermostat 35 reaches this predetermined or dangerous degree andtherefore the thermostat andvalve 34 operate as a safety device toprevent burning out the boiler. The supply of fuel to the main burner 11is normally under the sole control ofthe pressure actuated valve 29, itbeing understood that the'valves 24 and 27 are normally open asuflicient amount to permit the supply of fuel to the main burner to bewholly under control of the valve 29.

' From the foregoing it will be seen that the regulation of the waterand fuel sup-- plied to the boiler is accomplished entirely y the valves18 and 29 and since under all 15 supplies water in excess of the boilerrequirements it is obvious that the boiler can, underno circumstances,be flooded because the valve 18 is always closed except when thetemperature of the steam passing through the thermostat 19 is at orabove that corresponding to the normal boiler pressure. Furthermore,.the burner 11 issupplied with the maximum amount of fuel under allconditionsexcept when the boiler pressure ex ceeds the predeterminednormal and therefore when the vehicle is driven up a long hill orsubjected to a heavy load for a considerable period of time theenginewill be supplied at all times with the maximum proportion of theheat capable of running conditions of the vehicle the pump 1 oped by theburner under all conditions a below normal boiler" pressure andtemperature.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2, I have dispensed with thepressure regulator 16 and deliverwater directly to the boiler by meansof a pipe 37. Connected with the pipe 37 is a branch 38 leading to thevalve 39, this valve being actuated by a thermostat 40 which is similarto the thermostats 19 and 35. Water which passes through the valve 39 isreturned to the suction side of the pump 15 by'meansof a pipe 41; Thevalve 39 is normally open so that no water will be delivered to the whenthe temperature of the steam in the saturated steam zone is below thatcorres onding to the normal boiler. pressure. hen the temperature of thesteam reaches that corresponding to the normal boiler pressure orexceeds .the same, the valve 39 is closed and thus compels the waterwhich is delivered by the pump 15 to flow to the boiler. Otherwise thissystem is similar to that shown in Fig. 1.

The s. stems shown in Figs. 1 and 2, while materia ly different as tothe water regulating devices, are similar in that water does not flow tothe boiler when the temperature of the steam in the saturated steam zoneof said the boiler is below that the normal boiler pressure, and iscompelled to flow to the boiler when this temperature equals or exceedsthe predetermined temperature.

, Having described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters-Patent is,

1. In a fuel and water regulator for boilers, the combination of a watersupply reservoir, a pump adapted to draw water from reservoir anddeliver the water to the boiler at rates in excess of the boilerrequirements,v a by-passing device for normally'maintaining the Water onthe delivery side of the pump at a pressure in excess of the normalboiler pressure and deliver the excess of water over the boilerrequirements, to the suction side of said pump, a thermostaticallyoperated valve in the Water supply line for the boiler adapted to beshut when the temperature of the steam is.

below a predetermined degree, whereby no water will be supplied to theboiler, and to permit water to flow to the boiler at rates variable withthe excess in the temperature of the steam above said predetermineddegree, a thermostatically operated valve adapted to reduce the supplyof fuel to the boiler when the temperature of the steam deliveredexceeds a predetermined degree,-

and a. pressure actuated valve adapted to reduce the supply of fuel tothe boiler when 1 the boiler pressure exceeds a predetermined amount,all of said valves being independent in their operation.

2. In a fuel and Water ers, the combination of a ervoir, a pump adaptedto said reservoir and deliver the Water to the boiler at rates in excessof the boiler requirements, a by-passing device for normally maintainingthe Water on the delivery side of the pump at a pressure in excess ofthe normal boiler pressure and deliver the excess of water over theboiler requirements, to the suction side of said pump, athermostatically operated valve in the water supply line for the boileradapted to be shut regulator for boildraw water from when thetemperature of the steam is belowa predetermined degree, whereby nowater will be supplied to the boiler, mit water to flow to the boiler atrates Vari- .able with the excess in the temperature of the steam abovesaid predetermined degree, and a pressure actuated valve adapted toreduce the supply of fuel to the boiler when the'boiler pressure exceedsa predetermined corresponding to amount, said valves being independentin water supply resand to per their operation.

In combination with a boiler of the semi-flash type in which the waterflows through the various zones of the boiler in succession and whereinit is heated progressively, of means for supplying water to the boiler,means for supplying fuel, a valx c in the water supply meansthermostaticall operated to control the flow of water to the boiler inaccordance with temperature in the saturated steam zone of the boiler,and a valve in the fuel supply means thermostatically operated to reducethe supply of fuel to the boiler in accordance with temperature at thedelivery end of the superheated steam zone of the boiler.

4. In combination with a boiler of the semi-flash type in which thewater flows through the various zones of the boiler in succession andwherein it is heated progressively, of means for supplying water to theboiler, means for supplying fuel, a valve in the water supply meansthermostatically operated to control the flow of water to the boiler inaccordance with temperature in the saturated steam zone of the boiler, avalve in the fuel supply means thermostatically operated to reduce thesupply of fuel to the boiler in accordance with the excess of thetemperature, at the delivery end of the superheated steam zone of theboiler, above a predetermined degree, and a pres sure actuated valveadapted to reduce the supply of fuel to the boiler in accordance withthe excess of the boiler pressure above a predetermined pressure.

combination with a boiler of the semi-fiash type in which the waterflows through the various zones of the boiler in succession and whereinit is heated progressively, of means for supplying water to 100 theboiler, means for supplying fuel, a valve in the water supply meansthermostatically operated to control the flow of water to the boiler inaccordance with temperature in the saturated steam zone of the boiler,and 105 a pressure actuated valve adapted to reduce the supply of fuelto the boiler in accordance with the excess of the boiler pressure abovea predetermined pressure.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 11 in presence of twowitnesses.

ABNER DOBLE.

